McGill was a lifelong Ramsey resident. He graduated from Ramsey High School, where he played football, in 2001, was a volunteer firefighter for the town and worked for the public works department between deployments.

McGill enlisted with the Marines in August 2001 and was deployed to Iraq in 2005. He joined the Rhode Island National Guard in 2008 and qualified as an elite Special Forces soldier in 2011.

During his military career, McGill was awarded 28 valor awards including the Purple Heart.

Firefighters, police officers and military men and women from around the area also attended his funeral.

Gov. Chris Christie has ordered all state buildings to fly flags at half-staff on Friday to honor McGill.